For older adults living in an independent living or assisted living community, the opportunities for social interaction are endless. Yet men typically are less likely to engage in social activities than are their female counterparts, and they also are less likely to seek out friendship as a form of companionship.
For activities directors, getting men involved in community life proves to be a challenge. Having a large group of men meet regularly is practically unheard of. But the benefits of social interaction make a compelling case to prioritize male friendships and social engagement.
Research supports socialization for seniors
According to a 2019 study in The Journals of Gerontology, Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, older adults who interact with people beyond their usual social circle of family and close friends are more likely to have higher levels of physical activity, greater positive moods and fewer negative feelings.
Conversely, the National Institute on Aging has linked social isolation and loneliness to higher risks of heart disease, high blood pressure, obesity, depression, cognitive decline, Alzheimer’s disease and more.
Seniors aged 85 are older are more likely to experience loneliness than any other age category — and men are less likely to have close friendships than females. That is because men often rely on their careers or spouses to lead their social interactions, and after retirement and the loss of a loved one, they don’t know where to turn.
Launching a successful men’s group
Last year, our community, The Glades at ChampionsGate, seemingly cracked the code on male involvement. Our transportation director, Donnie, started taking a small group of men out to lunch once a month. His thought was that although men may not come to a planned activity, they always are open to sharing a meal.
For their first outing, five men attended lunch at a local restaurant. It was a small group, but they started telling others, and each month, more men joined them — until they filled every seat on our van each month.
Two residents in particular came out of their shell during those lunches. Although they rarely attended community events, they looked forward to lunch each month. They were the first ones in the lobby and started socializing with passing residents while they waited for Donnie and the others.
Those lunches also have served as a jumping-off point for other community events. Donnie shared that while at lunch, the men will start planning their next outing or talk about other ways they can get involved at the community. Next on the docket: a community car show and a trip to the driving range.
Tips for engaging male residents
As you can see, engaging male residents doesn’t require a flashy program or event. When looking to engage male residents, start with things that they already are interested in. For our team, that was mealtime, but for others, it may be bocce ball or veterans’ affairs. Audit your programs and find which programs men are attending the most, then provide more opportunity for engagement.
Giving them ownership of the group also will encourage them to come back. Our men are encouraged to pick which restaurant they’ll visit, which has given them the opportunity to try new things in our local community.
Lastly, don’t put too much pressure on the conversation. Let the socialization happen naturally so they can develop lasting friendships that will keep them coming back.
We couldn’t be more thrilled that the men in our community finally are gathering in a meaningful way. The socialization has had a positive effect on them and their overall mood, and their excitement is spreading throughout our community.
Dan Guanio is the executive director at The Glades at ChampionsGate, a Watermark Retirement Communities senior living community in ChampionsGate, FL, offering independent living, assisted living and memory care.
The opinions expressed in each McKnight’s Senior Living guest column are those of the author and are not necessarily those of McKnight’s Senior Living.
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